MGB: Just installed the Moss Wire Wheel Conversion Kit

Hello all,
I just installed the Moss Wire Wheel Conversion Kit — 111-428 on my 1979 MGB. Enclosed are some before and after shots.

More photos

Where's da pics?

Before

After

Install photos — Rear Wheel

Install photos — Front Wheel

Sweet!

More photos to come.
I seem to be having some difficultly attaching the photos?
Stay tuned.

Just read this Moss Instructions on there wire wheels... http://www.mossmotors.com/graphics/products/PDF/980-222.pdf
Interesting info..

I was going to wait to say something about the Moss instructions but they are absolutely useless!
I had to go to 2 different places until I found someone that knew how to install the kit.
It took almost 7.5 hours for a professional to complete the job.
The instructions give absolutely no hint on how to do the conversion or how much work is involved.

Here are the instructions from Moss’s web site (useless).

The Moss Wire Wheel Conversion Kit Instructions:
Our solution consists of a complete kit that includes 5 wire wheels (painted or chrome), the front hubs and wheel bearings, and special rear wire wheel hubs (266-600 & 266-610) that are made with an offset to properly position the wheel inside the wheel well. These hubs don’t use studs. Instead, they are threaded, and come with special lock washers and bolts with low profile heads. The brake drum is secured to the hub with these special bolts & lock washers. This conversion will allow you to run 165 series tires, and possibly 175 series. Tires from different manufacturers will vary in actual size even if they have the same size designation. Tire selection is important. If you have your heart set on a set of 185s, you will need to find an original wire wheel rear axle assembly.

Photos continued...

Photos continued...

One more

MICHELIN 165HR14 XAS Tire Tread

New MICHELIN 165HR14 XAS Tire Tread (from Coker) — Notice the asymmetrical tread pattern!

Ray,

Nice looking wheels there my friend!

Cheers,

Rob

robgeskey Wrote:

Original tire pattern — MICHELIN 165 SR 14 XZX
The original MICHELIN tires were made in Great Britain, the new MICHELIN tires (from Coker) are made in France.

Hi Ray.

I was the one you contacted and left a message when having difficulty installing the rear hubs. I'm also the one responsible for the web description of the kit.

Sorry I was not able to get back to you in a timely manner, I left a message but that was about 3 hours after you called. I'm up to my ears in projects.

My apologies too that you had problems and also did not understand what was entailed from the description. If you are willing, I'd love to get copies of your photographs, especially those of installing the rear hubs (which tends to be the most confusing aspect). I would like to generate a complete set of accurate instructions, including images so that the problems you encountered will not be repeated. Once completed we can put the instructions up on the web site, so future interested parties can get the full information.

Up till now we have not had access to good quality images, as no one has volunteered to swap their wheels out in our R&D shop.

I should be able to swing some kind of parts credit for your assistance.

Please drop me a line at doddk@mossmotors.com if you are interested.

Just a thought - do any of the US states get excited about you putting non-federalized eared knock offs on a later car? Just wondering.

I have earlier eared knock offs on my '73 and no one from big gov't cares. Back in the day ( 70's) I had four Michelin XZX on our MGB- two from France, one from Italy and one from GB. It was the international!

A number of years ago, Moss had shipments of winged ear knockoffs seized by customs, as they did not meet DOT requirements. The company went to court and a judgement was made that they could be legally imported to the US.

The next shipment was seized by customs anyway.


In the US there are very few agencies that check on whether the vehicle and accessories meet appropriate DOT requirements. Luckily so far, the states are extremely lax. I hope they stay that way. I think I'd prefer to be mown down by a rice rocket running non DOT tires and illegal engine modifications than face the governmental red tape and invasion of personal rights that many countries face. For an expat Englishman, I appreciate the cowboy mentality still found in many of the states in America.

I have had no problems from the powers-that-be over usin winged knock offs on the 69 MGC even though it didn't have them originally.

I had to do some fancy talking to get the Ben Hur style scythes on the Islero through the safety check though!

Not to hijack your thread.

Your wheels look good.

I just changed from mags to wires, and had to buy bolts for rear drums.

I just got hi tensile hex head bolts and fitted them.

After a couple of test runs, and a trip to the balancers, I drove it slowly to park and heard a squeak/ squeak/ squeak from right rear.

I had checked sound tone on all spokes at balancers, and thought $hit, must have loose spokes.

Off with wheel and tapped spokes, I thought I could hear a little difference so nipped them up and put wheel back on hub.

As car was on jack, I span wheel as it was loosely sitting on spine.

It squeaked same.

The penny dropped.

It must be the drum/brake/hub.

It turned out the top shoe spring was being hit as each bolt head passed.

In Denver I have the exact same colour car and year as yours. I have also put on the Moss ww converson. I had a Italian/English car specialist do it and at the same time new brakes and rear diff washers(for the clunk) it took 8 hrs. A knowledgeable mechanic is money well spent! I later lowered the car as he recommended and that made a wonderful diffrence and looks much better. I used 175 Tiger Pawes(I think Micl?) and very happy with the result. I have owned many LBC with WW and the one thing I do recommend when shopping for new wires is to go crome if one can possibly afford it. They just hose off and the dirt does not stick as bad as painted.

Very sharp! However, the car is too clean :) Looks like it needs to have the snot driven out of it...

Hello again,
I had a chance to take a updated shot.
Enjoy!

After.

Before.

Agree that the wheels look very nice on it. To my eye, it would look even better if it weren't up on tippy toes (in front especially), but that is normal RBB ride height.

Thanks for the compliment Bill.
I am very pleased with the look.
I had 30 years with the Rostyle Wheels and it was time for a change.